Selective logging based on set parameter

ABSTRACT

Providing asset-based logging by setting a flag for an identified asset and a transaction includes generating a first detailed log for logging activity related to the identified asset and the transaction by a first application implemented on a first node. A transaction identifier, the flag, and any of the identified asset, information generated by the first application implemented on the first node, information provided to the first application implemented on the first node and a representation of the identified asset is passed to at least one downstream application implemented on at least one second node. Detailed logs generated by the at least one downstream application are correlated with the first detailed log.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to the field of data collection andlogging. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to systemsand methods for selectively logging an identified asset by setting aparameter.

2. Background Information

Operations and transactions involving database items may require loggingto troubleshoot and resolve issues associated with a particular databaserecord or a transaction through a system. That is, in order to resolve aproblem associated with a single database record, detailed loggingstatistics and information may need to be collected for each record in adatabase or each transaction taking place in the system. Detailedlogging of each and every record in the database or transaction in thesystem consequently results in an increased usage of system resourcesincluding processing power, storage space and memory utilization.Further, greater resources are required to adequately parse andinterpret the extra collected and logged data, as well as to filterextraneous information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary general computer system that includes a set ofinstructions for selectively logging data based on a set parameter;

FIG. 2 shows a process flow diagram for selectively logging data basedon a set parameter, according to an aspect of the present disclosure;and

FIG. 3 shows a system diagram for selectively logging data based on aset parameter, according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In view of the foregoing, the present disclosure, through one or more ofits various aspects, embodiments and/or specific features orsub-components, is thus intended to bring out one or more of theadvantages as specifically noted below.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method of providingasset-based logging includes setting a flag for at least one of anidentified asset and a transaction. The method includes generating afirst detailed log for logging activity related to at least one of theidentified asset and the transaction by a first application implementedon a first node. The method also includes passing a transactionidentifier, the flag, and any of the identified asset, informationgenerated by the first application implemented on the first node,information provided to the first application implemented on the firstnode and a representation of the identified asset to at least onedownstream application implemented on at least one second node. Themethod includes correlating detailed logs generated by the at least onedownstream application with the first detailed log.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the transactioninvolves the identified asset.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, theidentified asset is a specified subset of objects stored in a datastore.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, the firstdetailed log and the detailed logs collect more detailed informationthan logging information collected for a transaction that is notdesignated with the flag and the first detailed log and the detailedlogs collect more detailed information than logging informationcollected for an identified asset that is not designated with the flag.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a correlated log isused to resolve an issue experienced by a user corresponding to at leastone of the identified asset and the transaction.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a time to liveparameter is set for the flag and the flag is purged after the time tolive parameter expires.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the methodincludes passing a request, encapsulating the flag and the transactionidentifier, to the at least one downstream application.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, a path,through the first node and the at least one second node, correspondingto the transaction is undetermined prior to initiating the transactionand a correlated log indicates the path corresponding to thetransaction.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the detailed logcollects information relating to at least one sub-transaction involvingthe identified asset.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the detailed logcollects information relating to at least one sub-transaction of thetransaction.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a system of providingasset-based logging includes a generator that generates a first detailedlog to log activity, related to at least one of an identified asset forwhich a flag is set and a transaction for which the flag is set, by afirst application implemented on a first node. The system includes atransmitter that passes a transaction identifier, the flag, and any ofthe identified asset, information generated by the first applicationimplemented on the first node, information provided to the firstapplication implemented on the first node and a representation of theidentified asset to at least one downstream application implemented onat least one second node. The system includes a correlation engine thatcorrelates detailed logs generated by the at least one downstreamapplication with the first detailed log.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the firstapplication implemented on the first node is enabled to access a time tolive parameter and the flag.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a level ofdetail provided by at least one of the first detailed log and thedetailed logs is variable.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, the systemincludes an automated rules processor that determines a course of actionto resolve an issue based on the correlated log.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the first node is atleast one of a processor, a network element, a server, a computingdevice, a physical storage and a physical memory and the at least onesecond node is at least one of a processor, a network element, a server,a computing device, a physical storage and a physical memory.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a correlated logcomprises at least one uniform resource locator (URL) link to at leastone of: the first detailed log, the detailed logs, a portion of thefirst detailed log and a portion of the detailed logs.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the detailedlog collects information relating to passage of at least one of: theidentified asset and information specified by the identified asset amongportions of the first application.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, thedetailed log collects information from at least one of the identifiedasset and a user.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the course of actiondoes not require human intervention.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a tangible computerreadable medium that stores a program, recorded on the tangible computerreadable medium, for providing asset-based logging includes a settingcode segment, recorded on the tangible computer readable medium, thatsets a flag for at least one of an identified asset and a transaction.The tangible computer readable medium includes a generating codesegment, recorded on the tangible computer readable medium, thatgenerates a first detailed log for logging activity related to at leastone of the identified asset and the transaction by a first applicationimplemented on a first node. The tangible computer readable mediumincludes a passing code segment, recorded on the tangible computerreadable medium, that passes a transaction identifier, the flag, and anyof the identified asset, information generated by the first applicationimplemented on the first node, information provided to the firstapplication implemented on the first node and a representation of theidentified asset to at least one downstream application implemented onat least one second node. The tangible computer readable medium includesa correlating code segment, recorded on the tangible computer readablemedium, that correlates detailed logs generated by the at least onedownstream application with the first detailed log.

FIG. 1 is an illustrative embodiment of a general computer system, onwhich a method to provide selective logging based on a set parameter canbe implemented, which is shown and is designated 100. The computersystem 100 can include a set of instructions that can be executed tocause the computer system 100 to perform any one or more of the methodsor computer based functions disclosed herein. The computer system 100may operate as a standalone device or may be connected, for example,using a network 126, to other computer systems or peripheral devices.

In a networked deployment, the computer system may operate in thecapacity of a server or as a client user computer in a server-clientuser network environment, or as a peer computer system in a peer-to-peer(or distributed) network environment. The computer system 100 can alsobe implemented as or incorporated into various devices, such as apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a personaldigital assistant (PDA), a mobile device, a global positioning satellite(GPS) device, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer,a communications device, a wireless telephone, a land-line telephone, acontrol system, a camera, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a printer, apager, a personal trusted device, a web appliance, a network router,switch or bridge, or any other machine capable of executing a set ofinstructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be takenby that machine. In a particular embodiment, the computer system 100 canbe implemented using electronic devices that provide voice, video ordata communication. Further, while a single computer system 100 isillustrated, the term “system” shall also be taken to include anycollection of systems or sub-systems that individually or jointlyexecute a set, or multiple sets, of instructions to perform one or morecomputer functions.

FIG. 1 is an illustrative embodiment of a general computer system, onwhich a method of selective logging based on a set parameter, which isshown and is designated 100. The computer system 100 can include a setof instructions that can be executed to cause the computer system 100 toperform any one or more of the methods or computer based functionsdisclosed herein. The computer system 100 may operate as a standalonedevice or may be connected, for example, using a network 101, to othercomputer systems or peripheral devices.

In a networked deployment, the computer system may operate in thecapacity of a server or as a client user computer in a server-clientuser network environment, or as a peer computer system in a peer-to-peer(or distributed) network environment. The computer system 100 can alsobe implemented as or incorporated into various devices, such as apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a personaldigital assistant (PDA), a mobile device, a global positioning satellite(GPS) device, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer,a communications device, a wireless telephone, a land-line telephone, acontrol system, a camera, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a printer, apager, a personal trusted device, a web appliance, a network router,switch or bridge, or any other machine capable of executing a set ofinstructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be takenby that machine. In a particular embodiment, the computer system 100 canbe implemented using electronic devices that provide voice, video ordata communication. Further, while a single computer system 100 isillustrated, the term “system” shall also be taken to include anycollection of systems or sub-systems that individually or jointlyexecute a set, or multiple sets, of instructions to perform one or morecomputer functions.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the computer system 100 may include aprocessor 110, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphicsprocessing unit (GPU), or both. Moreover, the computer system 100 caninclude a main memory 120 and a static memory 130 that can communicatewith each other via a bus 108. As shown, the computer system 100 mayfurther include a video display unit 150, such as a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a flat paneldisplay, a solid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT).Additionally, the computer system 100 may include an input device 160,such as a keyboard, and a cursor control device 170, such as a mouse.The computer system 100 can also include a disk drive unit 180, a signalgeneration device 190, such as a speaker or remote control, and anetwork interface device 140.

In a particular embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 1, the disk drive unit180 may include a computer-readable medium 182 in which one or more setsof instructions 184, e.g., software, can be embedded. Acomputer-readable medium 182 is a tangible article of manufacture, fromwhich sets of instructions 184 can be read. Further, the instructions184 may embody one or more of the methods or logic as described herein.In a particular embodiment, the instructions 184 may reside completely,or at least partially, within the main memory 120, the static memory130, and/or within the processor 110 during execution by the computersystem 100. The main memory 120 and the processor 110 also may includecomputer-readable media.

In an alternative embodiment, dedicated hardware implementations, suchas application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arraysand other hardware devices, can be constructed to implement one or moreof the methods described herein. Applications that may include theapparatus and systems of various embodiments can broadly include avariety of electronic and computer systems. One or more embodimentsdescribed herein may implement functions using two or more specificinterconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and datasignals that can be communicated between and through the modules, or asportions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, thepresent system encompasses software, firmware, and hardwareimplementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein may be implemented by software programsexecutable by a computer system. Further, in an exemplary, non-limitedembodiment, implementations can include distributed processing,component/object distributed processing, and parallel processing.Alternatively, virtual computer system processing can be constructed toimplement one or more of the methods or functionality as describedherein.

The present disclosure contemplates a computer-readable medium 182 thatincludes instructions 184 or receives and executes instructions 184responsive to a propagated signal, so that a device connected to anetwork 101 can communicate voice, video or data over the network 101.Further, the instructions 184 may be transmitted or received over thenetwork 101 via the network interface device 140.

As will be disclosed below in further detail, a flag is set for anidentified asset accessed by one or more systems. In one embodiment, theidentified asset is record in a database, for example, a customerrecord. In another embodiment, the identified asset is a multimediaobject, for example, a digital video, a digital audio, or a graphicsfile. In yet another embodiment, the identified asset is a collection ofone or more stored representations of communications. In still anotherembodiment, a flag is set for one or more transactions occurring in asystem. In yet another embodiment, the one or more transactions accessthe identified asset.

In another embodiment, the identified asset is a network element. As anon-limiting example, a number of telephones are associated with aprivate branch exchange (PBX). By enabling a flag for the PBX, callsassociated with every user activity that impacts the network element(e.g., the PBX) are logged. In one embodiment, the flag for the PBX isstored in a configuration file for the PBX, or any other data storeassociated with the PBX. In another embodiment, the flag is stored onthe PBX such that it is accessible by an application. In yet anotherembodiment, the flag is stored in a data store that stores arepresentation of the PBX as an identified asset.

In one embodiment, the identified asset is stored in a data store. Inanother embodiment, the data store is a relational database. In yetanother embodiment, the data store is a lightweight directory accessprotocol database.

An agent sets a flag for one or more identified assets. Alternatively,or additionally, the agent sets the flag for one or more transactions.In one embodiment, the one or more transactions involve the one or moreidentified assets. In another embodiment, assets or records accessed bythe one or more transactions are not determined or known a priori, thatis, prior to the start of the transaction. In yet another embodiment,the first application is not aware of one or more of the downstreamapplications. In still another embodiment, the number or identities ofapplications involved in a transaction are not known a priori.

The flag is set in response to an event or transaction. The agent iseither human or automated. The event is any of, but not limited to: acustomer inquiry to a call center regarding a product and/or service, abanking transaction, installing or using customer premise equipment,browsing the Internet and using a mobile phone application. In oneembodiment, the setting of a verbose parameter initiates an applicationor system accessing the asset or requesting the asset. In anotherembodiment, a second event initiates the application or the systemaccessing the identified asset or requesting the identified asset. Inyet another embodiment, the second event initiates the one or moreflagged transactions.

In FIG. 2, a process flow diagram according to an aspect of the presentapplication is shown. In step S200, an identified asset stored in acentrally located data store is marked with a verbose flag or a verboselogging parameter (hereinafter referred to interchangeably). If theidentified asset is, for example, a user record, one of the fields ofthe user record is entitled “verbose flag”. If the identified asset is anetwork element, then the verbose flag is stored with a representationof the network element in a database or a data store. As will beunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art, the verbose flag is anyrepresentation or indicator that indicates a desired level of detail asystem log.

In step S202, a transaction is initiated that requires the identifiedasset. The transaction is initiated by a first application. In oneembodiment, the first application is enabled to access a data storestoring the user record and the user record is an object with a verboseflag that is set. In an exemplary embodiment, the transaction is abanking transaction in which the agent sets the verbose flag for a userrecord that corresponds to a customer who is unable to access her onlinebanking account. In one embodiment, the transaction does not requireaccess to a predetermined, identified asset and in such case, thetransaction is associated with a verbose flag. The terms user,subscriber and customer are used interchangeably hereinafter.

In one embodiment, the detailed log collects enhanced information abouttransactions or activities involving the identified asset or when thetransaction does not require access to a predetermined, identifiedasset, collects enhanced information about sub-transactions comprisingthe transaction. With respect to the above-noted Internet bill paymentexample, when the verbose flag is not enabled, the first applicationgenerates a log entry for the banking transaction involving theidentified asset that indicates “bill not successfully paid”. When theverbose flag is set, the first application generates a log entry thatindicates, for example, sub-transactions including “retrieving theaccount; starting a credit check; credit check failed with credit cardclearinghouse; and transaction cancelled funds not transferred”.

In another embodiment, when the user record is associated with a verboseflag and when the customer makes a second attempt to access her onlinebanking account via an Internet bill payment application, the Internetbill payment application will access the flagged user record (again) andthe Internet bill payment application generates a log for the flaggeduser record that is more detailed than logs generated for other,unflagged user records. In this example, a second event (i.e., thecustomer attempting to re-access the user record) initiates the firstapplication accessing the identified asset or requesting the identifiedasset. In another embodiment, when the agent sets the verbose flag, thebanking transaction is re-initiated by the first application (i.e., theInternet bill payment application in the above-noted example), withoutintervention on the part of the customer. In the above-noted example,for every banking transaction in which a customer attempts to pay abill, the Internet bill payment application collects any of thefollowing, but not limited to: an account number, an IP address of arequestor, an amount paid and billing information of a biller to bepaid. When the Internet bill payment application creates the detailedlog for an accessed user record that is flagged with the verbose loggingparameter, the Internet bill payment application collects, for example,in addition to the above-noted information, any of the following, butnot limited to: the date and time of the current login, the date andtime of the last login, and the Internet browser and operating systemfrom which the customer is connecting to the Internet bill paymentapplication. In another embodiment, the Internet bill paymentapplication creates the detailed log for a particular bankingtransaction that uses the user record that is flagged with the verboselogging parameter.

In one embodiment, information provided to the first application isprovided to one or more of the downstream applications. In theabove-noted Internet bill payment example, information provided to thefirst application includes information provided by a user, such as athree-digit credit card security code. In another embodiment, theinformation provided to the first application is obtained from a sourceother than a user, for example, a network element, server, database orservice provider. A non-limiting example of information provided to thefirst application obtained from a source other than the user includes:credit history information for the user obtained from a credit bureau,information regarding collection accounts for the user obtained from oneor more collection agencies and information obtained from a databasespecifying a number of times the user applied for a credit card.

In step S204, a time to live parameter for the verbose flag is set. Inone embodiment, the time to live parameter has a default value. Inanother embodiment, the time to live parameter is set by an agent. Inyet another embodiment, the time to liver parameter is set by the systemor a system administrator when the verbose flag is enabled. The time tolive parameter for the verbose flag ensures that detailed logging datais not collected for a period longer than necessary. Consequently, thetime to live parameter ensures that resources are not unnecessarilyused. The time to live parameter indicates how long the verbose flagshould be considered enabled. Once the time to live parameter expires,the verbose flag is ignored, even if the verbose flag is still set.

A first detailed log is generated by the Internet banking and billpayment application in step S206. It should be noted by one of ordinaryskill in the art that the first detailed log collects additionalfeatures, of any kind, that relate to the identified asset, that relateto the transaction involving the identified asset, or that relate to atransaction that does not involve a predetermined, identified asset. Aswill also be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, the firstdetailed log collects varying level of information as determined by anagent or a system administrator. That is, the level of detail collectedin the detailed application log is variable.

In step S208, the first application (i.e., the Internet banking and billpayment application) sends a transaction identifier, the verbose flagand in one embodiment, either or both of the identified asset and arepresentation of the identified asset to a downstream application. Inanother embodiment, the downstream application is not enabled to accessthe data store storing the verbose flag and the time to live parameter.In the above-noted banking transaction example, the downstreamapplication is, for example, an authentication application.

When the Internet banking and bill payment application sends atransaction identifier and the verbose flag, and in one embodiment, theidentified asset or a representation of an identified asset, theauthentication application collects information to generate a firstdownstream detailed log for the identified asset, in step S210. In oneembodiment, the authentication application regularly collects an IPaddress, a user name, a password, an account number and summary detailsrelating to the banking transaction. When the authentication applicationreceives the transaction identifier and the verbose flag from theInternet banking and bill payment application, the authenticationapplication (i.e., the first downstream application) collects additionaldata including information about keystrokes and time between keystrokes,an Internet domain from which the Internet banking and bill paymentapplication is accessed and a uniform resource locator (URL) for aforwarding website. Alternatively or in addition to the additional data,the authentication application more granular details about the bankingtransaction identified by the transaction identifier. For example, theauthentication application regularly collects information about thesuccess or failure of authenticating the customer and when theauthentication application receives the transaction identifier and theverbose flag from the Internet banking and bill payment application, theauthentication application (i.e., the first downstream application)collects information about other entities contacted in sub-transactionsand the status of each of the sub-transactions.

If the downstream application (i.e., the authentication application inthe above-noted example) is compliant with the data store, thedownstream application directly accesses the data store to obtain accessto the identified asset. In another embodiment, the downstreamapplication receives the identified asset or a representation of theidentified asset from the first application. Every downstreamapplication involved in the transaction uses the verbose flag togenerate downstream detailed logs. In one embodiment, downstreamapplications are not “aware” of the identified asset, but collect moredetailed logs based on receiving the transaction identifier and theverbose flag. In another embodiment, the first application is not awareof one or more of the downstream applications. In yet anotherembodiment, the number or identities of applications involved in atransaction are not known a priori. In still another embodiment, theverbose flag and/or the transaction identifier as passed a part ofheader information for a request message. As will be understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art, any number of downstream applications,that are connected either serially or in parallel to the firstapplication, will receive the verbose flag, transaction identifier, andpossibly the identified asset and/or a representation of the identifiedasset, which in this example, is the user record.

When the verbose flag is not enabled, a log entry generated by thedownstream authentication application indicates whether the user wasauthenticated. When the verbose flag is enabled, the downstream detailedlog collects information of finer granularity that details the progressof the transaction, in one embodiment, in the form of sub-transactions.For example, the downstream detailed log includes information thatindicates “username and password successfully received; allowablecharacter length check initiated; allowable character length checkcompleted; password decrypted; search for matching username in database;match decrypted password with password stored in database successful;user authenticated successful; display user authentication messagesuccess.”

That is, in one embodiment, the detailed log indicates the passage ofthe identified asset between one or more software code segments of thefirst application. In another embodiment, the detailed log collectsinformation about the success, failure and status of sub-transactionsinvolving the identified asset. In yet another embodiment, the detailedlog indicates the progress of the transaction among any of thefollowing, but not limited to: code segments of a single softwareapplication, code segments of more than one software application, codesegments of one or more software application, the one or more softwareapplication being implemented on more than one physical device,components of an apparatus, network elements in a network and devices ina system. As disclosed above, detailed logs may be collected based onreceiving the transaction identifier and the verbose flag at: downstreamapplications that are not “aware” of the identified asset; a firstapplication is not aware of one or more of the downstream applications;and at one or more applications involved in the transaction for whichidentities are not known prior to the start of the transaction.

In step S212, detailed logging information is collected from the firstapplication and each of the downstream applications. The detailedlogging information is correlated using the transaction identifierand/or the user record. A single, correlated log, including all of theinformation from each of the logs is prepared and presented to a systemadministrator, agent or other individual, system or applicationtroubleshooting the current transaction, in step S212. In this manner,it is possible to identify the source of an issue and resolve the issuewithout the need for obtaining detailed information for each of the userrecords stored in the database or for each of the transactions occurringin the system. In one embodiment, the correlated log includes uniformresource locator (URL) links to detailed logging information collectedfrom the first application and each of the downstream applications. Thedetailed log is either stored at a centralized location or at adistributed location. The downstream detailed logs are either stored ata centralized location or at distributed locations. In anotherembodiment, the URL links are links to entries in the detailed log orthe downstream detailed logs. The correlated log is accessible by theagent or the system via any of, but not limited to: an Internet orintranet webpage, a short messaging system (SMS) message and an email.As will be understood by one of ordinary skill the art, correlationtakes place either centrally or locally, as will be explained in moredetail below.

In step S214, the correlated log is presented to the agent, the systemadministrator or sent to an automated rules processor. When thecorrelated log is presented to the agent or system administrator, theagent or system administrator determine a course of action to resolve oraddress the issue. When the correlated log is presented to the automatedrules processor, the automated rules processor determines a proposedcourse of action to resolve the issue. Also in step S214, the automatedrules processor optionally implements the proposed course of action,automatically, for the agent or system administrator.

In step S216, a time to live parameter associated with the verbose flagfor the identified asset expires and the verbose flag for the identifiedasset is purged. In this manner, detailed logs are not obtainedindefinitely for the flagged identified asset, transactions involvingthe flagged identified asset, and flagged transactions.

In FIG. 3, a system diagram according to an aspect of the presentapplication is shown. The identified asset, is, for example, a userrecord stored in a data store. In another embodiment, the identifiedasset is more than one user record, or a subset of all the user recordsstored in the data store. In yet another embodiment, the identifiedasset is a network element such as a network gateway, router, server, orany other physical apparatus present in a network that is accessed bymore than one party. In FIG. 3, the identified asset is illustrated asbeing a record 302 in a data store 300. In one embodiment, the record302 is accessed to provide a service, provisioned by a service provider,to a customer. In the following example, reference will be made to theabove-noted service. Initially, a customer 310 contacts a communicationscenter 312 and requests help installing and activating a set-top box. Anagent 328 at the communications center 312 uses a computing device 314to access the data store 300 and in particular, the record 302associated with the customer 310. The agent 328 then sets the verboseflag in data store 300 for record 302.

The agent 328 asks the customer 310 to re-attempt to connect and installthe set-top box. As understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, theset-top box is illustratively used by way of non-limiting example, andis substitutable with any other device, product or service. A firstapplication implemented on a first node 316 is, in the exemplaryembodiment, a provisioning application that accesses the data store 300to obtain the identified asset. The first node 316, as well as secondnode 318, third node 320 and fourth node 322 which are described indetail below, are any tangible physical device upon which a softwareapplication is implementable. For example, a node is any of thefollowing, but not limited to: a processor, a network element, a server,a computing device, a physical storage and a physical memory. Althoughfirst node 316, second node 318, third node 320 and fourth node 322 areillustrated in FIG. 3 as being three separate devices, it is noted thatone or more applications are implementable on a single node. That is,each of the first application, the first downstream application, thesecond downstream application and the third downstream application areimplementable one or any number of nodes.

Further, first node 316, second node 318, third node 320 and fourth node322 are illustrated in FIG. 3 as being connected in a particularconfiguration. However, as will be understood by one of ordinary skillin the art, the first node 316 may be in direct communication withfourth node 322 as well as second node 318. Moreover, the firstapplication may be in direct communication with the third downstreamapplication. As will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art,applications may communicate with each other in any number ofconfigurations not limited to that described with respect to FIG. 3.Accordingly, applications and nodes are connectable in differentconfigurations not described herein.

When the first application on the first node 316 attempts to send to aconfiguration file containing operation instructions to the set-top boxfor the customer 310, the first application on the first node 316 refersto the IP address stored in the record 302 obtained from the data store300. Since the record 302 is designated with a verbose flag, the firstprovisioning application on the first node 316 logs, in addition to thetime and date of the attempt to send the configuration file, a number offailed attempts, a time between an attempt and an acknowledgment of thefailed attempt and an error code returned by the set-top box as part ofthe detailed log. The first application 316 sends a transactionidentifier and a verbose flag to at least one downstream applicationimplemented on the second node 318. In another embodiment, any of therecord 302, a representation of the record 302 and the first detailedlog generated by the first application on the first node 316 are alsosent to the first downstream application implemented on the second node318.

The transaction identifier includes any of the following, but is notlimited to: an alphanumeric character string, a digital watermark, a bitsequence, a text file, an audio file, a video file and a graphics file.The transaction identifier is any machine readable representation of atransaction involving the identified asset (i.e., record 302). Thetransaction identifier is associated with the detailed log generated bythe first provisioning application on the first node 316.

When the first provisioning application on the first node 316 is unableto successfully send the configuration file to the set-top box, thefirst provisioning application on the first node 316 sends thetransaction identifier and the verbose flag to downstream applicationimplemented on the second node 318. In one embodiment, the firstprovisioning application 316 also sends a copy of the record 302 storedin data store 300 to the first downstream application on the second node318. In another embodiment, the first downstream application on thesecond node 318 accesses the data store 300 to obtain record 302. Aswill be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, the record 302or a representation of the record 302 are not necessarily sent to orused by any of the downstream applications.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the first downstreamapplication on the second node 318 is a billing application. The billingapplication on the second node 318 collects information to determinewhether the customer 310 has paid a current bill. The billingapplication on the second node 318 collects more detailed informationregarding whether the customer 310 has paid a current bill, when theverbose flag is sent, to generate a first downstream detailed log. Forexample, the billing application on the second node 318 checks the formof payment used in the last payment to determine whether the paymentmethod has expired.

In one embodiment, the detailed log generated by first provisioningapplication on the first node 316 is sent to the billing application 318and the billing application 318 merges the first detailed log and thedownstream detailed log. As will be understood by one of ordinary skillin the art, the merged first detailed log and the downstream detailedlog are merged by any of downstream application prior to sending to anautomated rules processor 326. Alternatively, the first detailed log andthe downstream detailed log or logs are individually sent to thecorrelation engine 324 and correlated into a single, correlated logprior to sending to the automated rules processor 326.

In one embodiment, the detailed application log collected by the firstprovisioning application on the first node 316 and the downstreamdetailed log generated by the billing application on the second node 318are sent to correlation engine 324. The correlation engine 324 uses thetransaction identifier associated with each of the logs to prepare asingle, correlated log. The correlated log is presented to the agent 328or a system administrator. In one embodiment, the agent 328 isautomated. In another embodiment, the agent 328 is human. The agent 328uses the correlated log to determine a course of action to resolve anissue facing the customer.

In yet another embodiment, the first downstream application on thesecond node 318 sends the transaction identifier and the verbose flag toa second downstream application implemented on the third node 320 and athird downstream application implemented on the fourth node 322. Thesecond downstream application is any of the following, but not limitedto: a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) application that formats andsends error messages to the agent 328 and/or the customer 310 and anemail client application that sends an email to the customer 310. Thethird downstream application is any one of the following, but notlimited to: an installer dispatch application and an internal auditapplication. As will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art,the applications are any application involved in the transaction and arenot limited to the examples described herein.

In one embodiment, the correlation engine 324 sends the correlated logto the automated rules processor 326 that determines and/or implementsproposed courses of action to address the issue facing the customer 310.Alternatively, the correlation engine 324 sends the correlated log tothe agent 328. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, theagent 328 determines, from the correlated log, that the payment methodused last time had expired and therefore the customer's set-top box hadbeen deactivated. In another embodiment, the correlated log indicatesthat when the customer 310 rebooted the set-top box, that theauthentication request was denied. The correlated log would alsoindicate that the set top box for customer 310 is a version not matchingthe record 302 or is no longer supported by the system. Accordingly, theautomated rules processor 326 would propose a course of action thatincludes updating the record 302 to indicate the version of set-top boxthat the customer 310 has.

Accordingly, the present invention enables selectively loggingapplication information, using variable levels of detail, based on a setparameter.

Although the invention has been described with reference to severalexemplary embodiments, it is understood that the words that have beenused are words of description and illustration, rather than words oflimitation. Changes may be made within the purview of the appendedclaims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention in its aspects. Although the inventionhas been described with reference to particular means, materials andembodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to theparticulars disclosed; rather the invention extends to all functionallyequivalent structures, methods, and uses such as are within the scope ofthe appended claims. For example, when a customer attempts to use avideo-on-demand product and is unable to do so, the customer contacts acall center and is put in touch with an agent. The agent sets a verboseflag in a lightweight directory access protocol data store and asks thecustomer to repeat the action. Typically, an application involved withthe video-on-demand transaction for which the verbose flag has not beenset will log an entry such as the following:

-   -   INFO TransId Video On Demand “Foul Play” purchase 12:57 Aug. 31,        2009 by ccwechsler for $1.99.

An application involved with the video-on-demand transaction for whichthe verbose flag has been set will log an entry such as the following:

-   -   DEBUG TransId Starting VoD “Foul Play” purchase    -   DEBUG TransId Deducting $1.99 from credit limit for ccwechsler    -   TRACE TransId Checking for enough credit    -   TRACE TransId Have enough credit    -   INFO TransId Video On Demand “Foul Play” purchase 12:57 Aug. 31,        2009 by ccwechsler for $1.99    -   DEBUG TransId Finished VoD “Foul Play” purchase.

As shown above, all applications that are involved with thevideo-on-demand transaction log enhanced details for the particulartransaction associated with customer. A correlated log is provided to anautomated rules processor, or alternatively, directly to the agent. Theagent determines that when the customer tried to purchasevideo-on-demand services, the requested product was not properly storedas being requested by the customer in a data store object. The agentresolves the customer's issue by eliminating the data discrepancy andupdating the data store object. In one embodiment, the agent forgets toturn off verbose logging for the specified data store object. A time tolive parameter associated with the verbose logging flag expires, andapplications cease logging detailed information for the data storeobject. Finally, a purge process removes expired verbose loggingsettings.

While the computer-readable medium is shown to be a single medium, theterm “computer-readable medium” includes a single medium or multiplemedia, such as a centralized or distributed database, and/or associatedcaches and servers that store one or more sets of instructions. The term“computer-readable medium” shall also include any medium that is capableof storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution bya processor or that cause a computer system to perform any one or moreof the methods or operations disclosed herein.

In a particular non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, thecomputer-readable medium can include a solid-state memory such as amemory card or other package that houses one or more non-volatileread-only memories. Further, the computer-readable medium can be arandom access memory or other volatile re-writable memory. Additionally,the computer-readable medium can include a magneto-optical or opticalmedium, such as a disk or tapes or other storage device to capturecarrier wave signals such as a signal communicated over a transmissionmedium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include anycomputer-readable medium or other equivalents and successor media, inwhich data or instructions may be stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsthat may be implemented in particular embodiments with reference toparticular standards and protocols, the disclosure is not limited tosuch standards and protocols. For example, standards for Internet andother packed switched network transmission, application messaging anddata storage represent examples of the state of the art. Such standardsare periodically superseded by faster or more efficient equivalentshaving essentially the same functions. Accordingly, replacementstandards and protocols having the same or similar functions areconsidered equivalents thereof.

The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of the variousembodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a completedescription of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systemsthat utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many otherembodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewingthe disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from thedisclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and may notbe drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may beexaggerated, while other proportions may be minimized. Accordingly, thedisclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative ratherthan restrictive.

One or more embodiments of the disclosure may be referred to herein,individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely forconvenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of thisapplication to any particular invention or inventive concept. Moreover,although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangementdesigned to achieve the same or similar purpose may be substituted forthe specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover anyand all subsequent adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R.§1.72(b) and is submitted with the understanding that it will not beused to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Inaddition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, various features may begrouped together or described in a single embodiment for the purpose ofstreamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter may be directed toless than all of the features of any of the disclosed embodiments. Thus,the following claims are incorporated into the Detailed Description,with each claim standing on its own as defining separately claimedsubject matter.

The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, andnot restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications, enhancements, and other embodiments which fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Thus, to the maximumextent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosure is to bedetermined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the followingclaims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited bythe foregoing detailed description.

1. A method of providing asset-based logging, comprising: setting a flagfor at least one of an identified asset and a transaction; generating afirst detailed log for logging activity related to at least one of theidentified asset and the transaction by a first application implementedon a first node; passing a transaction identifier, the flag, and any ofthe identified asset, information generated by the first applicationimplemented on the first node, information provided to the firstapplication implemented on the first node and a representation of theidentified asset to at least one downstream application implemented onat least one second node; and correlating detailed logs generated by theat least one downstream application with the first detailed log.
 2. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the transaction involves theidentified asset.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein theidentified asset comprises a specified subset of objects stored in adata store.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the firstdetailed log and the detailed logs collect more detailed informationthan logging information collected for a transaction that is notdesignated with the flag, and wherein the first detailed log and thedetailed logs collect more detailed information than logging informationcollected for an identified asset that is not designated with the flag.5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a correlated log is used toresolve an issue experienced by a user corresponding to at least one ofthe identified asset and the transaction.
 6. The method according toclaim 1, wherein a time to live parameter is set for the flag, andwherein the flag is purged after the time to live parameter expires. 7.The method according to claim 1, further comprising: passing a request,encapsulating the flag and the transaction identifier, to the at leastone downstream application.
 8. The method according to claim 6, whereina path, through the first node and the at least one second node,corresponding to the transaction is undetermined prior to initiating thetransaction, and wherein a correlated log indicates the pathcorresponding to the transaction.
 9. The method according to claim 6,wherein the detailed log collects information relating to at least onesub-transaction involving the identified asset.
 10. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein the detailed log collects information relating to atleast one sub-transaction of the transaction.
 11. A system of providingasset-based logging comprising: a generator that generates a firstdetailed log to log activity, related to at least one of an identifiedasset for which a flag is set and a transaction for which the flag isset, by a first application implemented on a first node; a transmitterthat passes a transaction identifier, the flag, and any of theidentified asset, information generated by the first applicationimplemented on the first node, information provided to the firstapplication implemented on the first node and a representation of theidentified asset to at least one downstream application implemented onat least one second node; and a correlation engine that correlatesdetailed logs generated by the at least one downstream application withthe first detailed log.
 12. The system according to claim 11, whereinthe first application implemented on the first node is enabled to accessa time to live parameter and the flag.
 13. The system according to claim11, wherein a level of detail provided by at least one of the firstdetailed log and the detailed logs is variable.
 14. The system accordingto claim 11, further comprising: an automated rules processor thatdetermines a course of action to resolve an issue based on thecorrelated log.
 15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the firstnode is at least one of a processor, a network element, a server, acomputing device, a physical storage and a physical memory, and whereinthe at least one second node is at least one of a processor, a networkelement, a server, a computing device, a physical storage and a physicalmemory.
 16. The system according to claim 11, wherein a correlated logcomprises at least one uniform resource locator (URL) link to at leastone of: the first detailed log, the detailed logs, a portion of thefirst detailed log and a portion of the detailed logs.
 17. The systemaccording to claim 11, wherein the detailed log collects informationrelating to passage of at least one of: the identified asset andinformation specified by the identified asset among portions of thefirst application.
 18. The system according to claim 11, wherein thedetailed log collects information from at least one of the identifiedasset and a user.
 19. The system according to claim 14, wherein thecourse of action does not require human intervention.
 20. A tangiblecomputer readable medium that stores a program, recorded on the tangiblecomputer readable medium, for providing asset-based logging, thetangible computer readable medium comprising: a setting code segment,recorded on the tangible computer readable medium, that sets a flag forat least one of an identified asset and a transaction; a generating codesegment, recorded on the tangible computer readable medium, thatgenerates a first detailed log for logging activity related to at leastone of the identified asset and the transaction by a first applicationimplemented on a first node; a passing code segment, recorded on thetangible computer readable medium, that passes a transaction identifier,the flag, and any of the identified asset, information generated by thefirst application implemented on the first node, information provided tothe first application implemented on the first node and a representationof the identified asset to at least one downstream applicationimplemented on at least one second node; and a correlating code segment,recorded on the tangible computer readable medium, that correlatesdetailed logs generated by the at least one downstream application withthe first detailed log.